Free agent Max Starks expects to be cleared around camp time

Posted by Evan Silva on May 26, 2012, 12:02 PM EDT

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The Steelers signed free agent tackle Max Starks off the street in early October of last season, and he solidified Pittsburgh’s left tackle position before a torn ACL ended his season in January. Starks has been rehabbing this spring, and he wants to keep playing football.

Starks is currently an unrestricted free agent.

On Saturday, Starks informed ESPN’s Josina Anderson that he’s “just about two months away” from receiving medical clearance to resume football activities. Training camp starts in two months, so the timelines conveniently coincide.

Starks is only 30 years old and a capable starter when healthy. He could be on Steelers G.M. Kevin Colbert’s speed dial in case rookie Mike Adams struggles in August practices and preseason games.

Starks also has ties to the coaching staffs in Arizona and Indianapolis. He can play both left and right tackle.

I’m certainly hoping Mike Adams doesn’t struggle. But if Max is able, it would be nice to have him back for some depth on that line. So many times last season we were down to our last lineman due to injuries. If we could afford the roster space, it would be a gift to have experienced linemen to spell one another and improve the odds of remaining healthy through the entire season.

Did you guys see Max play last year? If the DE against him had any speed at all, he just flew by Max before he could even react. If the DE decided to bull-rush, Max did better, but he has basically no lateral movement. I think we will be fine this year, or at least I can say that in May.

The amazing thing to me is that Starks (sans injury) is just about as good now as he was when he was franchised. Which wasn’t very good. One has to wonder exactly how much they would have really had to pay him if they had just let him hit free agency.

PIT should just do what they did last year, which is wait until they need him. If he couldn’t find a taker last year, he;s not likely to find one this year.